Did Google agree to pay Samsung if it lost patent battle with Apple?

Google has allegedly agreed to indemnify Samsung if the latter lost the $2.2bn patent law suit filed by Apple.

Apple made Google lawyer James Maccoun depose in front of a California federal court jury to authenticate the emails exchanged by Samsung and Google in 2012.

The iPhone maker has filed a string of patent infringement cases against Samsung with the latest majorly involving iPhone 5 and Galaxy S3, both launched in 2012.

Apple is accusing Samsung of copying five of its patented features including quick links, universal search, background syncing, slide-to-unlock, and predictive text.

Samsung, in turn, is accusing Apple of infringing two features, camera and folder organization, and video transmission.

Google is indirectly involved in the case as four of the five patents that Apple is suing for are part of the features provided on Android. The search engine major’s engineers have testified in the case in favor of Samsung.

According to Maccoun’s deposition in court, Google’s offer of help to Samsung is part of the Mobile Application Distribution Agreement (MADA) signed by the two companies to allow the latter use the former’s applications on its phones.

Apple, through Maccoun’s deposition, attempts to refute Samsung’s claims in 2012 that it was not seeking indemnification for the patents from any third party.

Meanwhile, defending in Samsung’s infringement suit, Apple said that Samsung acquired the two patents only after it filed the first patent case in 2011.

Samsung is claiming $7m from Apple for infringement of its two features.

Image: Apple is claiming over $2bn from Samsung for infringement of its patents. Photo courtesy of digitalart/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net